bantamweight
noun
ban·tam·weight
ˈban-təm-ˌwāt 
: a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 118 pounds for professionals and 119 pounds for amateurs compare featherweight, flyweight
Examples of bantamweight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Each time bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling raised the microphone to speak at Thursday’s UFC 292 press conference, boos rained down from the TD Garden crowd.
—
Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023
Sterling, a Long Island, New York native, is trying to successfully defend the bantamweight championship for a record third time pretty much in his backyard at the Prudential Center.
—Dan Gelston, ajc, 5 May 2023
As the days moved closer to their bantamweight title bout, hostilities finally started to flare much more than their awkward docile exchange earlier in the week inside a New Jersey hotel.
—Dan Gelston, ajc, 5 May 2023
The pay-per-view — starting at 10 p.m. — is headlined by a pair of title fights, with Zhang Weili defending her strawweight belt in the co-main before Sean O’Malley challenges Aljamain Sterling for the men’s bantamweight title in the evening’s main event.
—Amin Touri, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Ayala knocked off then-undefeated Tapia to win the WBA bantamweight title in 1999.
—Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 27 July 2023
Another former bantamweight titleholder, Cody Garbrandt (13-5), will take on Mario Bautista (12-2).
—Andrew Mahoney, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2023
Cejudo, 36, faces Aljamain Sterling (22-3) for the bantamweight (135-pound) title in the main event.
—José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 1 May 2023
The women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana headlines the card.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 10 June 2023
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Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023
Sterling, a Long Island, New York native, is trying to successfully defend the bantamweight championship for a record third time pretty much in his backyard at the Prudential Center.
—Dan Gelston, ajc, 5 May 2023
As the days moved closer to their bantamweight title bout, hostilities finally started to flare much more than their awkward docile exchange earlier in the week inside a New Jersey hotel.
—Dan Gelston, ajc, 5 May 2023
The pay-per-view — starting at 10 p.m. — is headlined by a pair of title fights, with Zhang Weili defending her strawweight belt in the co-main before Sean O’Malley challenges Aljamain Sterling for the men’s bantamweight title in the evening’s main event.
—Amin Touri, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Ayala knocked off then-undefeated Tapia to win the WBA bantamweight title in 1999.
—Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 27 July 2023
Another former bantamweight titleholder, Cody Garbrandt (13-5), will take on Mario Bautista (12-2).
—Andrew Mahoney, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2023
Cejudo, 36, faces Aljamain Sterling (22-3) for the bantamweight (135-pound) title in the main event.
—José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 1 May 2023
The women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana headlines the card.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 10 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bantamweight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near bantamweight
Cite this Entry
“Bantamweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bantamweight. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
bantamweight
noun
ban·tam·weight
-ˌwāt
: a boxer in a weight division having an upper limit of about 118 pounds
More from Merriam-Webster on bantamweight
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bantamweight
Britannica English: Translation of bantamweight for Arabic Speakers
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